Rail tie and joint.



C. V. WILFORD.

RAIL TIE AND JOINT.

APPLICATION FILED 00T.'4, 1913.

1,088,474. Patented Jam e, 1914.

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RAIL TIE AND JOINT.

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To all LU/wm t may concern Be it known that I, CARL V. VVILFORD, acitizen of the United States, residing at Barberton, in the county ofSummit and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Rail Ties and Joints, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in rail joints andrail ties and my object is to provide a rail tie which is so constructedas to also act in the capacity of a rail joint.

A further object of the invention resides in providing a tie which isprovided with transverse grooves for the reception therein of the railsand a still further object resides in providing` a tie which isincreased in width at one end thereof, such increased end thereofcontaining a transverse groove adapted to form the rail oint.

A still further obj ect of the invention resides in providing a devicewhich is simple and durable in construction, inexpensive to manufactureand one which will be very efficient and useful in operation.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in thenovel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts aswill be hereinafter referred to and more particularly pointed out in thespecification and claim.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application, Figure lis a fragmentary plan View of a track section showing my improved tiesin use. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through a tie embodying myimprovements. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of one end of atie with the rail removed; and Fig. 4L is a fragmentary plan view of thesame.

In describing my invention, I shall refer to the drawing in whichsimilar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughoutthe several views and in whichl indicates a tie formed of wood, metal orcementitious material, as desired, the same being of the usual or anypreferred length. This tie, for the greater portion of its length is ofthe usual width, the same, however, being tapered outwardly toward oneend thereof, as shown at 2, the latter end being substantially twice thewidth of the remaining portion of the tie. The upper face of this tieadjacent the ends thereof, is

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 4, 1913.

Patented J an. 6,1914.

Serial No. 793,448.

provided with transverse dove-tail slots or grooves 3, and these slotsare adapted to receive therein the base portions of the rails.

The tie which is shown and above described, is one at which a joint inone of the rails is to be formed. The increased or widened end of thetie forms the joint proper, it being understood that the two ends of therails to be joined, are brought into abutting relation about centrallyof the transverse slot in the widened or increased end of the tie. Asthese slots or grooves 8 are designed to snugly receive the baseportions of the rails, it will be understood that said rails, whenentered therein, will be securely held thereto. Thus, as the two abut-yting ends of the rails are brought together, centrally of this widenedportion of the tie, the same will be securely held in such abuttingrelation without the use of bolts and nuts and spikes, as are usuallynecessary in devices of this character.

It is, of course, understood that in the laying of a track, a tie suchas above described is only provided at the points wherein joints in therails occur. Ties which are equal in width throughout their length areotherwise provided in the length of the track, said ties being, ofcourse, provided with the transverse dove-tail slots in the upper facesthereof as in the tie above described. It will be seen from thisconstruction that when it is desired to remove a rail or tie for anyreason whatsoever, it is only necessary to slide the tie forming therail joint in one direction or the other, until the same is entirelyfree from one end of one rail section. The rail section or the tie maythen be removed quite readily.

While it is not absolutely necessary in the construction of a tracksection to provide additional means for securing the ties in place, incertain instances, I prefer to provide a retaining means for thispurpose. To this end, I desire to provide the under face of the tie witha plurality of threaded sockets indicated in the drawing as 4. Two ofthese sockets are provided adjacent the ends of the tie and the third isprovided about centrally thereof and rods or shafts 5 having threadedupper ends are engaged with said threaded sockets. These rods or shaftsdepend from the tie and enter the soil to prevent any possiblelongitudinal or lateral movement of the tie. Such a retaining means forthe ties is preferably provided at curves in the tracks, although thesame may be provided on each and every tie used.

From the foregoing description of the construction of my improveddevice, the manner of applying the same to use Will be readilyunderstood and it Will be seen that I have provided an improved tiewhich Will, not alone perform the function of a tie for the support ofrail sections but Will also form a joint for a pair of rail sections. ItWill also be seen that the device is one which is simple and durable inconstruction, inexpensive to manufacture and one Which Will be veryefficient and useful in operation.

While I haveV particularly described the elements best adapted toperform the functions set forth, it is obvious that various changes inform, proportion and in the minor details of construction may beresorted to Without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of theprinciples of the invention.

Having thus described this invention, What I claim is A tie comprising abody having a plurality of threaded sockets in the bottom face thereof,and a plurality of rods threaded at their upper ends and engaged Withthe threaded sockets of the body to form anchoring means for the latter.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiX my signature in the presence of twoWitnesses.

CARL V. WILFORD. `Witnesses J. C. WISER, N. MoNG.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Uommissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

